Disney is a magical wonderland and getting the perfect photo is the best way to preserve the memories for years to come. But how do you go about getting that perfect photo? What factors should you consider and what tricks make a great picture? Keep reading, and I will cover the basics to help you out.
The first thing you want to think about is the type of camera you will be using. Do you want a regular analog camera or a digital camera. For myself, in the current day and age I would go with digital, simply because it makes sharing photos with family that much easier and less expensive. However if you are old school you can still go with regular film.
Another option, especially if you plan on riding a lot of water rides is to buy the single use waterproof disposable cameras. They are also great for kids, so that kids can snap their own photos and memories.
The next thing you want to consider is framing the shot well. If you have a large group all lined up in front of Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat and you are standing back half a mile to fit them all in the shot it will not come out very well at all. It will be hard to tell who is who!
So instead, have everyone squish together as much as you can, and get as close as you can while zooming your lens out at the widest angle possible. Only shoot from the waist up or higher, and you will be able to not only get everyone within the shot, but it will also be much closer and a better photo overall.
Another thing to do is experiment with a bit of wide angle shots as well. Close ups are great for family portraits and things, but use a bit of wide angle on other shots so you get as much of the Disney experience into the shot as you can.
With night photo’s it is extremely difficult to get those shots of fireworks and lights display. You can try the night program settings on your camera and play around with flash and without flash, but don’t be too disappointed if they don’t come out great. Also remember that when shooting people to be about 6 feet away. The flash should illuminate, not completely wash them out.
Remember to always look at things with a photographer’s eye. You should be framing everything and analyzing whether you think that would be a good shot or not, or if there is too much going on in the background, etc. For instance, for sunny pictures you want to make sure you are either in full sun or full shade. Half and half photos make the picture look odd because you now have shade dappled people.
Or if you are taking a photo of Mickey and there is a huge tree in the shot that is practically swallowing his ears, that might not be the best shot for that picture. Also be aware of having strangers’ body parts in your family photos and get in as tightly as possible so that you have the best arrangement.
Another good tip if you are using disposable or film camera’s is to label EVERYTHING. There is nothing worse than getting back home with a mountain of film and cameras to be developed and no idea what is what. So label everything, pay attention to your framing and you should have some great memories to share for many years to come!
